Roots on blu ray? Lost scenes

I have been asking for a full remastering of the film in its original 8 part configuration for years. At the last WB chat, the participants said that they weren't aware of any missing footage. When the 8 parts were combined into 6 later on, the openings for some hours were cut and the footage that played under those openings was also cut. Well, someone on ebay is listing a 16mm copy of the series and lo and behold they posted some screencaps of those scenes!

http://picasaweb.google.com/jonny8books/RootsEpisode8Reel12

The footage is faded but if you look at the first several frames you can see the opening to the original Episode 6 with George Hamilton singing. This is one scene not on any home video/dvd release. There are over 100 stills posted on this site, along with the lost scenes. Please, WB, restore the original 8 part version for 2012 (the 35th Anniversary.)

Here is another still from an opening scene cut for the 6 episode version. The cut scene lasts about 2 minutes and includes the first part of Chicken George returning hope from England.

https://picasaweb.google.com/jonny8books/RootsEpisode10Reel12#5563537471340841298

No, and there are opening scenes..it's complicated.

Here is how the original broadcast was divided up:

Night 1-Two Hours

Night 2-Two Hours

Night 3-One Hour

Night 4-One Hour

Night 5-One Hour

Night 6-Two Hours

Night 7-One Hour

Night 8-Two Hours

....Now, the dvds have opening credits at the start of each "two-hour" block. However, look at Night 6....the first hour is now the final hour of Episode 4 and the second hour is now the first hour of Episode 5. Not only are these openings cut but someone goofed on the end credits and dvd episodes 4 and 5 have partially incorrect credits. This is a bummer for the crew members who only worked on an hour (and there were a few.) They don't get any credit now! Let's just say that when it comes to combining these episodes, it is very confusing and a bit of a mess! And it isn't confined to the dvd versions...all vhs, dvd, and re-broadcast versions (except for the 1978 re-run on ABC, which was a five part series of two and three hour episodes) are the exact same. Also, the opening has been slightly changed. Originally, at the end of the opening theme, we saw a blue screen and the novel rose up to a vertical position and we saw the cover of the novel with "An ABC Novel for Television" on screen. Now, it is simply a black screen with the ROOTS title.

The actual 35th Anniversary date is January 23rd, 2012. I feel lucky to have viewed the lost scenes at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York. During last year's chat with WB, I brought this issue up and the reps from WB were not aware of anything missing. I hope they took notes and are looking into it. Roots is still very popular and well-known. I am currently doing research for a ROOTS book and have become very well read when it comes to the making of the show and its impact on viewers in 1977 and beyond. It's a masterpiece.

Come on WB! We're counting on you!

Still no word, unfortunately. Another mistake made for dvd was Roots: The Gift. It was only available in the Roots: The Complete Collection box set. The Gift was presented in faux widescreen, cropping the vertical picture information. I don't know why they made this decision. What I would like to see in a blu-ray release:

The Features:

•  Roots-original 8 part ABC version with the original openings and endings restored, and all teasers and recaps included.

          **As an extra, they could include the current Episode 5 opening that wasn't shown in 1977. It's on the current dvd.

• Roots: One Year Later (it's on the current release, but with a different title)
• Roots: The Next Generations-with original WB logo at the end (as on the vhs version)
• Roots: The Gift-in original full-screen (the end credits on every available version omit the Eastern Airlines voice over/footage, resulting in a weird edit of the music. Probably can't be corrected.)
• Queen

Extras:

• Bumpers for all shows
• Promos for all shows (the one for ROOTS was on youtube a while back. It was almost documentary-like, with interviews from people who saw a preview screening.)
• News reports from ROOTS Week
• Roots: 25th Anniversary tv Special
• Alex Haley interviews on various shows
• Alternate 6 episode version (currently on dvd...probably the version the filmmakers were planning before ABC changed the schedule at the last minute.)
• Behind the scenes footage (it is available and has shown up in various retrospectives.)
•  A tour of the Fox Ranch where much of the original show was filmed.
•  A tour of the Oak Ranch where the 2nd series was filmed (and some of the buildings still stand.)
•  A tour of Henning Tennesse where Alex grew up and is buried (in the front yard of his grandparents' house, which figures prominently in the 2nd series.)
•  Difference in the book/movie
•  A complete look at the ROOTS phenomenon
•  Any deleted scenes that may still exist
•  Emmy Awards footage
•  All Bonus Features from the current dvd
•  Collectible booklet containing information about each epsiode with broadcast dates, ratings for that night, complete cast/crew, photos, complete list of Emmy nominations/wins,

          list of other awards won, bios of Alex Haley, David Wolper, Stan Margulies, and major cast members, and a ROOTS family tree with photos.

•   Numbered boxed set
•   Each series would be placed in its own case in the box.
•  Collectible Roots mini-poster from the original airing's promotional title artwork

...The goal of this release would be to re-create as best as possible the original broadcasts, sans the commercials (and with the bumpers placed in the extras section.)

...The series made not only television history, but American history as well. Please save this history and preserve it for future generations as a record of what took place the week the shows were

   aired.